IGGPPC : Iggle BookWorms discussion

The Iggles have spoken. This month we're reading Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Stay tuned for the time and date for the discussion with Sam.
This is a debut book from Scottish writer Gail Honeyman. It's won a bunch of awards and soon to be a major motion picture. - This make me want to go out and write the book that's been in my head for ages, but I digress.

I hope you all enjoy.

Got my copy yesterday. I look forward to reading it.

YES! I read this at the end of last year. I'll re-read it again just to be able to discuss with other people. I love Eleanor Oliphant-she is just one of those characters you can't ever let go of long after you are finished reading the book.

Look forward to reading this. It's been on my shelf for a while so this is a good incentive to crack it open!

Looking forward to leading the discussion on this book :-)

The discussion will be on 27th October at 2pm GMT

Will the discussion be here or on twitter?

In case anyone was wondering (like I was) google says 2pm GMT is 9 AM central time. ^_^

Liz wrote: "Will the discussion be here or on twitter?"
I read in the discussion section that it will be on Twitter.

Yes, thank-you! (I had to do the conversion too, 10am EST) And it will be on twitter. Sam will take over the @igglebookworms account!

Great, thanks!

I have been AWOL for too long! Just downloaded the audio version - I am going to start it this weekend!

I'm probably not going to be free for the twitter chat but am enjoying the book and hopefully be able to chat to a few of you on here about it afterwards.

ICYMI on twitter @igglebookworms we had quite the insightful discussion hosted by Sam! Please respond here or find the twitter thread.

Welcome to the Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine discussion. Disclaimer: the questions are taken from Penguin Random House website @penguinrandom check out the website for more information on the book inc Author Q&A.

1. Knowing the truth about Eleanor’s family, look back through the book to revisit her exchanges with her mother. Did you see what was ahead? How did Honeyman lay the groundwork for the final plot twist?
Samanyaaron

2. What are the different ways that the novel’s title could be interpreted? What do you think happens to Eleanor after the book ends?
Samanyaaron

3. Eleanor says, “These days, loneliness is the new cancer—a shameful, embarrassing thing, brought upon yourself in some obscure way. A fearful, incurable thing, so horrifying that you dare not mention it; other people don’t want to hear the word spoken aloud for fear that they might too be afflicted” (p. 227). Do you agree?
Samanyaaron

4. What does Raymond find appealing about Eleanor? And why does Eleanor feel comfortable opening up to Raymond?
Samanyaaron

5. Eleanor is one of the most unusual protagonists in recent fiction, and some of her opinions and actions are very funny. What were your favorite moments in the novel?
Samanyaaron

6. “Did men ever look in the mirror, I wondered, and find themselves wanting in deeply fundamental ways? When they opened a newspaper or watched a film, were they presented with nothing but exceptionally handsome young men, and did this make them feel intimidated, inferior, because they were not as young, not as handsome?” (p. 74). Eleanor’s question is rhetorical and slightly tongue-in-cheek, but worth answering. What are your thoughts? If men don’t have this experience, why not? If they do, why is it not more openly discussed?
Samanyaaron

7. Eleanor is frightened that she may become like her mother. Is this a reasonable fear? What is the balance of nature and nurture?
Samanyaaron

8. Is it possible to emerge from a traumatic childhood unscathed?
Samanyaaron

9. Eleanor says, “If someone asks you how you are, you are meant to say FINE. You are not meant to say that you cried yourself to sleep last night because you hadn’t spoken to another person for two consecutive days. FINE is what you say” (p. 226–227). Why is this the case?

I wasn't able to join the twitter chat but I wanted to answer a few of the questions here (there will be spoilers!):

1) I suspected from fairly early on that Eleanor's discussions with her Mother were not actual phonecalls, as the author was very careful not to mention her picking up a phone etc. I thought it was probably Eleanor talking with the elements of her mother she had internalised. But I didn't make the leap to guess that her Mum had died.

3) I think loneliness is very pervasive these days. I'm not sure that it is a complete taboo although it can certainly be difficult to admit to feeling lonely. It seems like we are all more connected than ever via the internet but that doesn't provide us with the real-world connectons we all need, and I think people are starting to realise that.

4) At one point Raymond tells Eleanor he likes that she doesn't care about office politics or gossip and that she speaks her mind. It can be very refreshing to be around someone who is totally honest about what they are thinking. I think Eleanor opened up to Raymond because he showed her a kindness and patience she was not used to. He was also a constant, reliable figure in her life.
I thought that towards the end of the book, the author was setting it up for Raymond and Eleanor to get together romantically, but I don't feel great about that. I thought that the specialness of their relationship came from the fact that it was platonic, with no added expectations

5) I liked when she went to the heavy metal gig not knowing what it was going to be, and I also liked when she went to the department store for makeup and new clothes.